Movers & Shakers: Top CA Politicians

League officials say that's due to dropping revenues from student enrollment fees and less property tax revenues than the state had projected.

"These latest cuts threaten the elimination of even more classes and more faculty and staff layoffs," said Scott Lay,Community College League President, in a statement released Tuesday.

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The League estimates that the new cuts translate to $135 less per student. That's on top of an estimated $554 cut in per-student funding since 2009.

Community college advocates want the legislature to step in and fill the gap.

But H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for Gov. Brown's Finance Department, tells Prop Zero the League is jumping the gun.

"In our view, it's premature" to make these kinds of predictions, Palmer said.

In April, the state will have a better handle on student fee and property tax revenues.

Last year, Palmer said, the League made a similar shortfall prediction that was eventually filled with property tax money.

Part of the problem, Palmer said, is the rising amount of student fee waivers. Last year, the community college system granted a 56 percent waiver rate. This year, it's approaching 63 percent. That high number is aggravating the system's financial troubles.